Medical Entrance Exams in India 2026: Medical entrance exams are a crucial step for students aspiring to build a career in the field of medicine. In India, various medical entrance exams such as NEET, NEET PG, NEET MDS, NEET SS, FMGE, and INI CET serve as essential gateways to admission in medical courses. These highly competitive medical entrance exams are mandatory for securing a seat in top-ranked medical colleges across the country.
The healthcare sector offers a wide array of career opportunities, from doctors and nurses to specialized fields like medical research, diagnostics, and healthcare management. To access these opportunities, aspirants must clear specific entrance exams for admission into programs like MBBS, BDS, Nursing, and AYUSH.
Among these exams, NEET UG is the sole entrance test for undergraduate medical courses like MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH. It is compulsory for all aspiring medical students to qualify for NEET to be eligible for seats in both government and private medical institutions.
For those seeking postgraduate medical courses such as MD, MS, or PG Diploma, qualifying for NEET PG is essential. This exam is conducted annually by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). Additionally, candidates aiming for admission to prestigious institutes like AIIMS, JIPMER, NIMHANS, and PGIMER must clear the INI CET exam for programs like MD, MS, M.Ch., and DM.
In this blog, we will provide comprehensive details about the top medical entrance exams in 2026. You’ll find information on eligibility, important dates, registration, and the admission process for each exam.
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List of Medical Entrance Exams in India
The following table brings the list of medical entrance exams in India, along with the courses offered and the conducting body.
| Name of the exam | Courses offered | Conducting Body |
| NEET UG | MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, veterinary, and other medical/paramedical courses | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| NEET PG | MD/MS/PG Diploma/DNB post-MBBS | National Board of Examinations (NBE) |
| NEET SS | DM (Doctorate of Medicine) and MCh (Master of Chirurgiae) courses | National Board of Examinations (NBE) |
| NEET MDS | MDS/PG Diploma (Dental) | NBE |
| INI CET | MD, MS, DM, M.Ch, MDS | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi |
| FMGE | Licensing Examination | NBE |
| AIAPGET | MD, MS, PG Diploma (AYUSH courses) | NTA |
| AIIMS Nursing | B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. Nursing programs, | AIIMS, New Delhi |
Top Medical Entrance Exams in India
The list of medical entrance exams in India is long. However, out of these medical entrance exams in India, some of these hold significant importance. Some of the top medical entrance exams in India are as follows –
1. NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate)
NEET UG is the most popular medical entrance exam in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses (MBBS and BDS) in government and private medical colleges of India. NEET UG is a pen-and-paper-based test for which over 24 lakh candidates appear each other. The basic eligibility criteria is to have passed class 12. NEET UG scores are used for various programs such as MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BAMS, and BHMS.
Important dates for NEET 2026
| Events | Dates |
| Registration and application | February 2026 |
| Application correction window | March 2026 |
| Release of the city intimation slip | April 2026 |
| Release of the admit card | May 2026 |
| Exam day | May 2026 |
| Release of answer key | To be Announced |
| Announcement of the result | June 2026 |
2. NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate)
NEET PG is conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for admission to postgraduate medical courses such as MD/MS/PG Diploma courses in government, private, deemed, and central universities across India. The exam assesses candidates on subjects related to their respective medical specialties. The basic eligibility criteria is having an MBBS degree.
Important dates for NEET PG 2026
| Events | Dates |
| Registration and application | April 2026 |
| Application correction window | June 2026 |
| City allotment slip | July 2026 |
| Admit card release date | July 2026 |
| Exam day | August 2026 |
| Announcement of Result | September 2026 |
3. NEET SS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Super Specialty)
NEET SS is conducted for admission to various super speciality courses such as DM/MCh in medical colleges across India. It is an essential exam for doctors looking to specialise further in their respective fields. The National Board of Examinations (NBE) conducts the NEET SS annually.
Important dates for NEET SS 2026
| Events | Dates |
| The registration and application process begins | February 2026 |
| Last date to submit the application | February 2026 |
| Admit cards will be released | March 2026 |
| Exam day | March 2026 |
| The result will be announced | April 2026 |
4. NEET MDS (National Eligibility and Entrance Test for Master’s of Dental Surgery)
The National Board of Examinations (NBE) conducts the NEET MDS entrance exam for admission to MDS courses in various institutes in India. The basic eligibility criteria require a BDS degree.
Important dates for NEET MEDS 2026
| Events | Dates |
| Registration and application | February, 2026 |
| Application correction window | March, 2026 |
| Final correction window to rectify images | March, 2026 |
| Admit card release | April, 2026 |
| Exam day | April, 2026 |
| Result date | May, 2026 |
| Scorecard release | May, 2026 |
5. INI CET (Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test)
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi conducts the Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INI CET) exam for admission to Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Surgery (MS), Master of Dental Surgery (MDS), Doctorate of Medicine (DM), and Master of Chirurgiae (MCh) courses. The INI CET exam is conducted twice a year for January and July sessions.
Important Information for INI CET:
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the examination | Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test – INI CET |
| Conducting body | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi |
| Mode of examination | Computer-based exam / Online |
| Official website | aiimsexams.ac.in |
6. FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduates Examination)
The FMGE exam is conducted by the NBE through which overseas Indian students or Indian citizens can pursue a medical career in India. The FMGE is considered the toughest medical entrance exam in India.
Important dates for FMGE 2026
| Events | Dates |
| Registration and application | April 2026 |
| Application correction window | May 2026 |
| Final correction window | May 2026 |
| Admit card will be issued | July 2026 |
| Exam day | July 2026 |
| Announcement of result | August 2026 |
7. AIAPGET (All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test)
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the All India AYUSH Post Graduate Entrance Test – (AIAPGET) for admission to postgraduate courses. The postgraduate courses include MD/MS/PG DIPLOMA courses in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy medicine.
Important dates for AIAPGET 2026
| Events | Dates |
| Registration and application | April 2026 |
| Last date to pay the application fee | May 2026 |
| Admit cards will be available online | July 2026 |
| Advance City Intimation | July 2026 |
| Exam day | July 2026 |
| Announcement of result | July 2026 |
| Counselling Starts | September 2026 |
8. AIIMS Nursing- Nursing entrance exam
The Premier medical institution of the country, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, conducts AIIMS bsc nursing exams for admission to its undergraduate B.Sc. (H) and B.Sc. (post-basic) nursing courses. AIIMS nursing is conducted annually and invites applications from eligible candidates from all over India.
Important information about AIIMS nursing entrance exams
| Particulars | Details |
| Name of the examination | AIIMS B.Sc Nursing |
| Conducting body | All India Institute of Medical Sciences – AIIMS, New Delhi |
| Mode of examination | CBE / Online |
| Duration of examination | B.Sc Nursing (post-basic) – 1 hour 30 minutes
B.Sc (H) Nursing – 2 hours |
| Official website | www.aiimsexams.ac.in |
FAQs: List of Medical Entrance Exams in India
1. What are the top MBBS entrance exams in India?
Ans: The top medical entrance exams for 2026 include NEET-UG, AIIMS MBBS, JIPMER, and PGIMER, among others. NEET-UG is mandatory for admissions to MBBS and BDS programs across India.
2. When will the NEET UG 2026 registration start?
Ans: Registration is expected to begin in February 2026, most likely during the first week, and will remain open for around 4 weeks, closing in early March 2026.
3. Which is the easiest medical entrance exam in India?
Ans: None of the medical exams in India are considered easy. To clear any of these examinations, candidates need to put in a lot of effort and dedication.
4. Which is the top-ranked medical college in India?
Ans: As per NIRF rankings, the top medical colleges are AIIMS Delhi, CMC Vellore, and JIPMER Puducherry.
5. Can I apply for AIIMS MBBS separately in 2026?
Ans: No, admissions to AIIMS MBBS will be through NEET-UG from 2020 onwards. AIIMS MBBS and JIPMER MBBS have been merged with NEET.
6. How can I apply for these medical entrance exams?
Ans: You can apply for NEET-UG and other medical entrance exams online through the respective official websites. Keep track of the official notifications to ensure timely application submission.
7. Apart from MBBS, which other medical courses can I take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) admission to through NEET scores?
Ans: NEET (UG) is the gateway to admission for all undergraduate-level medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS and BSc Nursing. In some states, such as Maharashtra, NEET UG scores are accepted for admission to AYUSH courses as well.
